Drs. Stacy L. Waneka and Michele S. Kovacs:
Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Travel Medicine
Family Medicine:
Family Medicine is the medical specialty that provides continuing, comprehensive health care for individuals and families. The hallmark of the specialty is the forging of an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship based on integrated care. While knowledge and skill may be shared with other specialties, the family practice is unique. In addition to treating illness, a large part of the practice is disease prevention and health maintenance. Family physicians deliver a wide spectrum of acute, chronic and preventive medical care services ranging from diagnosing and treating illnesses to providing routine check-ups, health-risk assessments, immunizations and screening tests, as well as counseling patients on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, managing chronic illness, or coordinating care provided by other sub-specialists. Because of their long-term physician-patient relationships, family physicians come to learn the complete medical history of their patients, a distinct advantage when confronted with an emergency. Indeed, treatment by family physicians results in a quality of care second to none, high patient satisfaction, and a more cost-effective use of hospitals, testing, procedures, and increasingly expensive technology.
Pediatrics:
Nothing concerns a parent more than the well-being of their child. Assuring that your child grows up strong and healthy requires diligence and constant care which requires up-to-date knowledge. That’s why it’s important that you be able to trust your caregiver to provide a superior level of medical services: one that employs the latest thinking and technology and one that takes into account your child’s specific needs.
The "one-size-fits-all" approach does not work in pediatrics. In our practice we view your child as an individual, with a unique personality and needs. We also recognize that your child is part of a family. And that family has its own unique regimen and cultural beliefs. School, work, sports and other activities must also be taken into account. For newborns, we recommend evaluating your child on a regular schedule beginning a few days after birth, again between two weeks and one month old, and then at the second month, the fourth month, sixth month, ninth month, twelfth month, fifteenth and eighteenth month. Annual visits should begin at 2 years of age. Of course, any opportunistic or chronic illness (like asthma or allergies) should be monitored on a regular basis. During these visits you should discuss any nutritional guidelines the doctor may offer. They are important particularly if obesity or food allergies are involved. We assess breastfeeding for mother and baby at each well-care visit. If you wish, complete diet guidelines can be provided for infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers, school-aged, or teenaged children as appropriate for their individual development.
Travel Medicine:
ravel Medicine is a specialty that requires training, education and a continuing commitment to keep abreast of the constantly changing health situations around the world.
While it has become very easy to travel to any spot on the globe in a matter of hours, that same ease can put the frequent traveler at risk. Whether it's a business trip or a vacation, a day or a month, by boat, plane or train, preparation is the key to a successful trip. And part of that preparation is consulting with a Travel Medicine specialist, a physician uniquely prepared to assess your individual risks and needs and safeguard your health. Consider, for example, that up to 70% of travelers will develop a travel related illness. And 1 traveler in 12 will become sick enough to seek medical attention. Vaccinations can protect against many diseases encountered on foreign soil. Vaccinations are categorized as routine, recommended or required depending on your destination and intended activities and may include:
•Hepatitis A
•Yellow Fever
•Meningococcal Tetanus
•Hepatitis B
•Typhoid
•Japanese Encephalitis
•Polio
